§ Mr. Portilloasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's implementation of recommendation 32 of the report of the Home Affairs Committee on refugees and asylum.
§ Mr. HurdThe Government accepted this recommendation subject to reviewing the situation in the country concerned shortly before the seven year point was reached by those first granted leave under a particular exceptional policy. I have now considered the position in respect of Iranians granted exceptional leave to enter or remain since the Iranian revolution in December 1979. In the light of conditions in Iran I have decided that where an Iranian has had exceptional leave to be in this country for seven years indefinite leave to remain should be granted, provided that he or she is not personally unacceptable. Applications from Iranians will now be considered with a presumption in favour of giving settlement on this basis. This policy will be kept under review in the light of the situation in Iran.